To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 901 N. Francisco Avenue, Mission, Texas, as the "Mission Veterans Post Office Building".

Mr. Speaker, I certainly want to thank the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Clay) for his leadership and for his work on this committee; and, also, my friend from Alabama (Mr. Palmer) for the work he does on this committee.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1209, which will rename a post office facility in my district at 901 North Francisco Avenue in Mission, Texas, as the Mission Veterans Post Office.

Across my district, fine men and women of all walks of life have honorably served our country, and it is critical that we honor their service and their dedication. Mission alone is home to over 2,000 veterans, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Dedicating this post office to our veterans will serve as an enduring reminder of the sacrifices that our friends, neighbors, and families have made while serving their country. These individuals put country ahead of self, and I am proud to recognize them with the dedicating of this post office facility.

Today in particular, I want to acknowledge the sacrifice of Captain Joaquin Castro from Mission, Texas. Captain Castro joined the Army Air Corps in 1941 and served as a B-17 pilot in the Pacific theater. He was stationed at Hickam Field in Hawaii during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, where his airfield was extensively damaged and suffered heavy casualties. However, Captain Castro would go on to serve several missions against enemy forces before being declared missing in action during a bombing mission.

He received the National Defense Service Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Air Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster. Captain Castro would eventually be honored with an elementary school named after him in his hometown in Mission, Texas. He was known to be a humble and diligent individual who served in a variety of jobs before joining the military. He was a janitor; he was a school bus driver; and he was a stenographer also.

We owe our freedom to veterans like Mr. Castro, which is why I am recognizing him with the dedication of this post office, not only for his service but also that of the other veterans. He is just one example of many veterans who have made countless sacrifices for their country in the face of danger. The bravery and the commitment of our veterans to our Nation demonstrates what it really means to be an American, the essence of an American.

Mr. Speaker, I would also, at this time, take a moment to thank the veterans organizations throughout my district for their tireless work in providing the care that our veterans need. Let us remember and express our gratitude to these courageous people: the veterans, their families, as well as their caregivers.

In the words of President John F. Kennedy: A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces but also by the men it honors, the men it remembers.

And, of course, we include women in that quote also.

This bill allows us to show our appreciation for the veterans of Mission, Texas, and to make sure that their sacrifice to our country is not forgotten.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1209) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 901 N. Francisco Avenue, Mission, Texas, as the ``Mission Veterans Post Office Building''.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1209, introduced by the gentleman from Texas, Representative Henry Cuellar.

H.R. 1209 honors the veterans of Mission, Texas, for their service to this Nation, veterans like First Lieutenant Joaquin Castro.

Lieutenant Castro, born in Mission, Texas, served as a pilot in the Army Air Corps from 1941 until 1943, when he was declared missing in action.

For his service, Lieutenant Castro earned the National Defense Service Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Air Medal with an Oak Leaf Cluster.

I look forward to hearing more about Lieutenant Castro and the veterans of Mission, Texas, from Mr. Cuellar.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of the bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues in consideration of H.R. 1209, a bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 901 North Francisco Avenue, Mission, Texas, as the Mission Veterans Post Office Building.

At this time, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar) so that he may tell us more about the honorable veterans from Mission, Texas.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I urge the passage of H.R. 1209, and I yield back the balance of my time.